Latest news with #BerndKörber
Motor 1
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
BMWs Will Look Very Different Very Soon
BMW's next era of design starts with the iX3 electric SUV, which is scheduled to debut before the end of the year. But it won't be the only vehicle in the Bavarian brand's lineup to get the Neue Klasse look. According to Group design boss Adrian van Hooydonk, every BMW will have a 'Neue' face—and soon. In an interview with Autocar , van Hooydonk said that BMW's new design language will roll out on every model. Even though it just debuted in 2023, the 5 Series sedan will be the first vehicle to get the new look, although, as a facelift, it will remain on its current CLAR architecture. The 5 Series redesign will be followed by the X5, 2 Series, X2, 7 Series, and X7. BMW M3 EV Rendering "We will make sure that the form language that we are developing now—and starting this year at the IAA [Munich] with the first of the Neue Klasse vehicles—will be rolled out over the entire product portfolio, leaving no car behind," said van Hooydonk. Product boss Bernd Körber reiterated van Hooydonk's statement, noting that the new design rollout won't take long. It will happen, "within three and a half years across the entire portfolio," Körber notes. But don't worry, this doesn't mean every BMW will have the same cookie-cutter Neue Klasse look. Van Hooydonk confirmed that, while every BMW will have a familial resemblance, each model will have its "own distinct character traits." BMW iX3 Rendering Photo by: BMW originally planned to limit the Neue Klasse design language to its EVs, but the company confirmed back in October that the design direction would make its way to gas models as well. Previewed by the Neue Klasse concept in 2023 and the Neue Klasse X crossover, BMW will likely ditch its massive kidney grille for a smoother front fascia and subtler design elements. The Latest From BMW BMW Has a 'Higher Demand' for the M5 Wagon in the US This Beautiful BMW Wagon Is Actually Going Into Production Source: Autocar Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
NZ Autocar
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
BMW says driving pleasure will survive the autonomous revolution
BMW has made it clear the 'joy of driving' will remain a core value in its vehicles, even if they self-drive some of the time. Speaking at the Shanghai motor show, BMW's head of product, Bernd Körber, emphasised that future models will embrace advanced driver assistance. But they will continue to deliver engaging experiences behind the wheel. The Bavarian brand showcased its Vision Driving Experience (VDE) prototype. It is a quad-motor super-saloon based on the Vision Neue Klasse concept. While it is not going into production, plenty of its tech will turn up in the electric M3. BMW calls it 'the fastest test bench in the world', boasting 18,000 of torque, 1200kg of downforce and lateral forces of up to 3g. Evidently 98 per cent of braking operations can be achieved using recuperation. The VDE surprised onlookers in Shanghai with a run up a 55-degree ramp. Körber said that even as automation becomes mainstream, BMW will remain loyal to its brand DNA. 'While everyone is looking towards automation, why do we focus on driving? Because for BMW, it's core to who we are,' he explained. Körber argued that as cars take over more commuting duties, people will choose to drive for pleasure. Driving engagement, he said, will be even more important. 'In boring situations like city traffic and commuting, people will want the car to drive itself. But when they decide to drive for fun, they'll want a car that delivers,' he added. Körber drew parallels to China's growing trend of leisure motorcycling. There riding is seen increasingly as recreation rather than pure transport. The 'Heart of Joy' system, BMW's new power and dynamics management unit showcased in the VDE, is central to this strategy. It promises sharper, more responsive handling across BMW's upcoming electric range. BMW's design chief, Adrian van Hooydonk, reinforced this vision, stating that even highly autonomous models will leave control firmly in the customer's hands. 'We want our customers to decide when they drive or when the car drives for them,' he said. 'Our new Heart of Joy system will take handling to the next level.' The first production model featuring this new tech will be the next-generation BMW iX3, due for official unveiling at the Munich motor show in September. In an industry increasingly obsessed with turning cars into rolling lounges, BMW's Shanghai presentation served as a reminder that for some brands, emotional connection still matters. Körber summed it up: 'The worst thing we could do is follow every trend and lose our identity. That would not be BMW anymore.' BMW's stance is different and its future products still take aim at driving enthusiasts. While the industry rushes headlong towards autonomous driving, not all companies are embracing it fully.
